Politics Schmolitics

Not much to report here in terms of travel stories. It was a pretty low-key weekend; we had to go to the Relay for Life KL. We did get to meet the American ambassador and his family. He seems like a really down-to-earth guy. But there was an obvious reminder of why I hate the political game:

Ambassador Keith was there as a private citizen - he didn't want to give a speech or be recognized for anything. And the coordinators knew that. When they called his team's name for the first lap, he and his family (he is married with seven kids, one that is adopted and handicapped) and some embassy employees took to the track. They didn't get more than 100m when the minister of magic, I mean, health comes flying up with the media in tow and takes over the wheelchair. The cameras start snapping away. Here, the minister of health, shaking hands with the American ambassador and pushing his Asian handicapped son. The media was eating it up. It was disgusting. But I guess that's politics. It didn't seem to phase the ambassador or his family so it must happen. The photographers got their shots and the minister disappeared.

Less serious but just as annoying, I'm getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Maybe I should have taken the malaria medicine after all. We leave for Bali in the morning - I hope to god it's better there.